What is it with all this death?
 

is the Burrow Downs a place where people died? why do you always refer to people who hang out here, dead? I don't get it

That is the general theme here. When you first join your status is Newly Deceased, the more you post the more you advance. Next would be a pile O Bones, then Animated skeleton and so on. So we are all dead here in the barrows, that's what the Barrows were for in the book. You'll get used to it, and it's fun too

The theme of death and decay does set this place apart, doesn't it? None of that cutesy stuff here! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Long ago in the depths of time (circa 1998) I decided my little Tolkien site needed a name of its own. At that time, many of the more obvious ones (or at least variations of them...i.e. lordotherings.com and middle-earth.com) were still available, but I was determined not to be much of a movie site so I sought for a lesser known Middle-earth place or person to use as the name for the site.

After reading through the books for a couple day and still not arriving at an acceptable name, I turned to a friend who had read the books only once and long ago.

"How about the Barrow-downs?" he asked.

"Wow!"I thought, "That's an awesome idea!"

So I immediately registered the domain, and fortunately the site was already done in a color scheme close to what you see today.

Eventually, the discussion forum was born and it became necessary to theme it somewhat because of the User Levels/User Titles. The levels of decriptude seemed only fitting for those unwise enough to chat in a haunted tomb.

And now you know ... the rest of the story.

And Mr Barrow Wright according to 25 Hobbits it is a very popular site. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] It's actually fun to be dead around here! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Just found this, and thought it might be fun to bring up again so everyone might see it and know this noble place history.. ^_^

Thank you for bringing this back up, this is interesting to read. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

let me c if i understand this: (which i dont) the more posts u put, a change of name comes under your name? and what does each name mean?! and why are we dead? im sorry i didnt get the earlier explanations.

I still want my title! There are some who lurk on this board who got one before they had over 500 posts! But, I am getting used to being a shade, so I guess I'll live.

I think there's a thread on here that details the levels of the hierarchy. I think it is the FAQ, but I am not sure on that!

Per Aralaithiel:
*snicker* Sorry, couldn't help it. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Yes, I must say, I've never enjoyed being dead quite so much as I have since I came here! Hey, anyone wanna help me come up with a name for myself after I reach whatever point you have to be at to choose your own name in the 'Downs? (I can't think of a thing and, sicne I obviously can't shut up, I'm likely to need one soon-ish. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img])

From what I understand, MoP, the way this hierarchy works is that the more you post the more dead you become. Newley deceased- just joined/just died. Pile o' Bones- you've been around long enough to decay. Animated skeleton- you're starting to become abit more Wight-like. Wight- they were the undead spirits who haunted the 'Downs in the books. Shade of Carn Dum- I think that was one of the more frightening wights, but I can't be too sure. And I don't know what comes after that.

Posting this again

1-10 - Newly Deceased
11-25 - Pile of Bones
26-50 - Animated Skeleton
51-100 - Hanuting Spirit
101-250 - Wright
251-500 - Shade of Carn Dum
501 + Ghost Prince of Cardolin

Some time afterwards you get to chose your own name.

my number of posts seem pathetic now. argh! i'll need to go a bit post crazy lol

Yeah what Inziladun said! I find the fact that all the rating names are "undead" is pretty cool! I also think it's great because it is different too [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

whats the last 1? (if there is a last 1)

Heh heh. Seems only yesterday that I was Newly Deceased. (Actually it wasn't that long ago at all - I've been looking back and thinking, "Did I really write *that* much?"). Not sure what could come after Shade of Carn Dum except possibly Worsted By Shade of Carn Dum (which presumably means you're even deader than the Shade). Of course that would imply that you were *less* powerful than before which wouldn't make a lot of sense...

"I'm not dead! I think I'll go for a walk!"

Someone said on another thread that they belong to Minis Tirith, too, so I checked it out. They have a hirarchy too. They start as a tower guard or something and move up in rank.

Being dead is so cool! Everyone should read this thread! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I love being dead! It´s way more fun and cool than being alive anyway.... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Really? We have ratings on this thing? Cool. And that was a neat bit of BD history there! Thankees!

yeah... Im allmost a Wight!!!!!! ^_^

hey hey! DARN! I have so long to go...hmmm: Minas Tirith you said? I have to check that out. I want to choose my own name! Better go to the afterlife and back with posts!!! Heehee...can you change it ever? I hope so! I DO post a lot, so...Wish me LUCK!

WAIT! I'm only 14! I have all the time in the world to get there!


(get the feeling I'm desperate to post now?!)

I'm a Ghost Prince of Cardolan now!!!!! After this, you can chose your own title, just have to email the BarrowWrgiht.

i don't know what my title is... That's why I'm posting, so I can find out!

Oh, I'm still an animated skeleton.

Sorry I thought i would reserect this for a bit, because its funny looking at all the people saying how they have hardly any posts and it saying things like 1107 under posts. Sorry just thought i would share the joy with others.